Monthly Archives: August 2009

Medicare,The AARP, and Sutton's Law

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 31st August 2009

Tweet There was a time when Sutton’s law was commonly taught to medical students, but its use has declined as has the notoriety of the bank robber (Willie Sutton) for whom it was named. Sutton is alleged to have said that he robbed banks because that’s where the money is; he denied saying this. It’s…

Giuseppe Di Stefano Sings Three Songs

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 30th August 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSy9qrk8pzQ]

Tweet The clip below presents the late great tenor singing three songs. His says that he’s going to sing thee Sicilian songs, but the clip is obviously edited as he sings one Sicilian song, then a Spanish song, followed by a short version of “Core ‘ngrato”. Pippo was 28 when this performance was recorded. The…

Diagnosis of Diabetes

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 29th August 2009

Tweet The diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is officially based on measurement of fasting blood sugar or two hour post glucose blood sugar. Unofficially many physicians have used HbA1c to diagnose the disease. A few years ago I was on a panel discussing hypertension. A difficult case was presented. There was a question as to whether…

Cenerentola at Glimmerglass

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 22nd August 2009

Tweet The Alice Busch Opera Theater is on the shore of Otsego Lake (aka as James Fenimore Cooper’s Glimmerglass). The austere but lovely 914 seat theater has housed Glimmerglass Opera’s productions since 1987. The company now presents about 40 performances of four works each Summer. On Friday August 21 Glimmerglass mounted its penultimate performance of…

Saving Money on Medical Care

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 21st August 2009

Tweet Here’s an intelligent article on the realities of new health care legislation posted at a surprising sight. Well worth reading. Remember if a new program can’t reduce the ruinous cost increase of medical care it’s not worth doing. The Health Care Cost Saving Myth

Healthcare Cuts in British Columbia

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 18th August 2009

Tweet Read this article to see what happens to government health insurance. It’s another example of less healthcare costing more resulting in even less medical care. Drastic health cuts coming in Vancouver: B.C.

Medical Care as a Right

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 15th August 2009

Tweet If you asked a large randomly selected group of Americans whether medical care was a right many, perhaps most, would say yes. Analyze what such a right entails. If Mr Smith has a right to medical care but can’t afford to pay for it then Mr Green must. It’s a zero sum game. Smith…

Headline of the Week

Healthcare Abroad and at Home

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 7th August 2009

Tweet The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article about healthcare in France. It details the financial difficulties that France’s national healthcare plan is experiencing. The data on this graph need a little explaining. It presents the percentage change in medical (not health as it states) cost in four countries. To accurately analyze the data…

Recording of the Week: Garanča – Bel Canto

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 6th August 2009

Tweet Latvian mezzo-soprano Elina Garanča has enjoyed considerable success on the world’s major opera stages over the past five years. At the Met she has sung in Rossini’s Barber and in the title role of Cenerentola which concluded the company’s HD telecasts earlier this year. Her DGG recital disc Bel Canto shows her dark and…

About Neil Kurtzman

Neil A Kurtzman MD is the Grover E Murray Professor Emeritus and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Department of Internal Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock. He has combined careers in clinical medicine, education, basic research, and administration for more than 30 years.